Building construction



5 E- JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION July 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 28, 1950 [or/ E. Jones I INVENTOR.

By Z k I July 6, 1954 E. E. JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Ear/ E. done 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS E. E. JONES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION July 6, 1954 sheets-sheet 3Filed Jan. 28, 1950 Ear/ E. L/O/IGS Patented July 6, 1954 BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION Earl E. Jones, Houston, Tex.; Mae Jones, executrix of saidEarl E. J ones, deceased, assignor to J & B Steel Products, Inc.,Houston, Tex. a

v corporation of Texas Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 141,128

' 7 Claims. .1

This invention relates in general to a modular building construction andhas for its primary object the production of an improvedbuildingconstruction especially adapted to be fabricated from metal or the likeand applicable also to the use of other materials such as concrete incombination with metal, and which will be cheap to manufacture, easy andquick to erect, and very sturdy once it has been erected. It is also anobject that such construction permit easy dismantling and re-erection ofthe building in a different place or in different floor plans.

Many attempts have been made in the past to devise a construction whichwill make possible the efficient assembly of steelor concrete panels orthe like upon framework which may also be of steel but in such attemptsmany difficulties have i been encountered and failures have beenexperienced because of one or more factors such as the excessiveexpensive manufacture, the costly or ineffective methods employed forsecuring the metal or other panels to the metal framework, the skilledlabor and special tools requir d in such assembly, the unattractiveness0f the finished product, or the lack of strength and durability in thefinished product. It is, therefore, a more specific object of inventionto provide a building construction which will make possible theapplication ofpmetal panels, or panels of other materials to at amewithout the use of mortar, screws, bolts or nails orof any special toolsor skill. Another object is to provide a building construction whichwill make possible the application of non-nailable metal or other panelsto a metal frame in such fashion that neither the panels nor the frameis altered to impair its future usefulness.

Another object is to provide a building construction which will makepossible the application of metal or other non-nailable panels to ametal frame without the use of bolts, rivets, nails, or of any specialtools or skill.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodyingimperforate wall panels which may be readily assembled or disassembledwithout special tools and without any alteration or damage such as toimpair suitability for reuse.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodyingnon-nailable imperforate wall panels without the use of mortar or thelike.

Another object is to provide a building construction embodyin imprforate m a orp ti wall panels without the use of adhesive.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts throughoutand wherein is illustrated by way of example a structure en bodying twopossible modifications of wall design made in accordance with thisinvention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a modified perspective view i'llusr trating a section of awall constructed in accord; ance with this invention, showingprincipally the exterior view thereof.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section through acorner of the wallstructure illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the wall structureillustrated in Figure l l, and

through a fragment of roof and ceiling structure section, illustratingone modification of this invention by which the metal face panelsillustrated may be readily secured to a metal franwwork, this View beingtaken from the front side of the wall structure.

Figure 6 is'a view similar toFigure 5 but taken from the opposite sideof the same joint structure, parts in this figure likewise being brokenaway and shown in cross section for purposes of illusitration.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure v6 but illustrating themodification of ceiling structure shown in Figure 3 which may also beemployed on the inner wall panels instead of that em.- ployed on thewall panels as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of Figure 3 showinga vertical cross section through a portion of a cement panel structureembodying the securing means of this invention.

It is contemplated that the wall structure illustrated which is made inaccordance with this inventi n. all be mo t d u a fo nda on consistingof a concrete slab I vor its equivalent, this slab bein 50 constructedthat if desired it may form a portion of the floor of the buildingconstruction. .Of course, the body i may be formed to serve merely as afoundation and other .floor structure provided.

Secured to this slab as'a base for the framework of the walls is a sheetmetal support member 2 on which are carried upturned flanges 3 and 4which, as will presently be shown, serve as keepers for the lower edgesof the face panels of the inner and outer walls respectively. Thissupport 2 may be secured to the slab i by any suitable means such as bythe bolts 5.

The keeper flange 4 is provided by a part of the sheet 2 which extendsdown over the corner 6 of the slab I and is then turned up to providethe keeper flange 4. The keeper flange 3 is provided by a part which maybe separate from and secured to the sheet 2 but which has an upstandingflange I that actually carries on its upper edge the offset keeperflange 3.

The wall structure is made up primarily of the substantially verticaland parallel T-beams or studs 8 and 9 which respectively form the innerand outer wall panel supports. Each of these supports has a front panelreceiving surface on its cross flange as indicated by the numerals Itand I I respectively, all of the cross flanges which provide the panelreceiving surfaces for the inner wall panels being in one plane and allthe panel receiving surfaces of the supports for supporting the outerwall panels likewise being in one plane. It will be understood that theT- member supports or studs 8 and 9 may be of other cross section andconstruction so long as they provide front panel receiving surfaces andthe latching surfaces hereinafter described. They may be cross bracedand connected to each other in any desired fashion, such cross bracingand connections not being shown here in detail because they form no partof this invention and might tend to confuse the illustration shown inthe drawing, but being exemplified by the cross members i2 and I3adjacent the lower and upper ends of the studs respectively.

In addition to the fact that the front faces of the flanges l and l Iprovide face panel receiving surfaces, the rear faces of these crossflanges provide rearwardly facing latching surfaces as will presently bedescribed.

In front of the keeper provided by the upstanding flange there is anupstanding flange l4 adapted to be engaged by the clips IS on thesnap-on base I6. The hollow interior of. this base will, if desired,serve as a housing for electric wires, et cetera.

At the upper ends of the stud members 8 and 9 there may be provided across connecting sheet metal bearing plate I! having a center section Itfitting between the sheet metal plates 2| and 22. Truss spacing plate Hhas portions i9 and which rest upon those portions of plates 2i and 22that overlie the upper ends of the inner and outer stud sections 8 and 9respectively. Spacing plate I"! is secured as by welding or othersuitable means to the roof trusses. The plates 2| and 22 both have partsextending downwardly along the inner extremities of the legs of thestuds and inturned flanges 23 and 24 at the lower edges of such parts,said flanges 23 and 24 resting on and secured to the cross braces 13.

Resting on top of the wall framing just described and preferably securedto the spacers I? are the roof trusses which, in the form illustraed,are made up of the bottom chord members 2%: which also serve as ceilingjoists, and top chord members 26 which also serve as rafters. The bottomchords in the illustration are each formed of two angle bars 2'! and 28disposed back to back (see Fig. 4) and spaced apart to receive betweenthem flat web tie members 29 and 4 3%, to which the angle bars arewelded or otherwise suitably secured. The top chords are slinilarlyformed of two angle bars 3i and 32 disposed back to back and spacedapart to receive tie members. Adjacent the eave, the tie member 39 whichis secured between the angles of the bottom chord extends upwardlybetween the angles of the top chord and is secured thereto to tie thechords together. It also extends above the angles of the top chord as at33 and this extension is perforated for a purpose presently to be setforth. At a position directly opposite the tie member 29 there isprovided another tie member 34 which extends between and is suit ablysecured to the angles of the top chord and is tied to the tie member 29of the bottom chord by a short angle section 35 secured to both tiemembers 29 and 34. Tie member 34 also extends above the angles of thetop chord at St and is perforated at 31 similarly to the tie member 3%.The gable trusses (Fig. 4) may be modified somewhat by forming the topand bottom chords of single angles 38 and 39 joined together by T-section ties 40. Ties 40 should be aligned with the studs in the lowerwall so as to form in efiect extensions thereof if it is desired thatthe joints between the gable panels be aligned with those in the wallbelow. The angle forming the bottom chord 39 should be disposed with itsvertical flange remote from the outer wall surface so that the crossflanges of the T-section ties as may extend as close as possible to theupper ends of the studs, but the angle forming the top chord 38 shouldhave its vertical flange on the outside so that it may provide anabutment for the upper edges of the gable panels.

The roof construction comprises sheathing ll which may be of wood orother suitable material, with sheet metal strips 42 laid on top. Thesheet metal strips are provided with nesting inverted channels 43 and 44at their adjacent edges interfitting with each other and fitting overthe upper perforated ends of the tie members 39 and 34. Bolts or thelike 45 are inserted through the perforated ends of the tie members andregistering perforations in the inverted nested channels to hold thesheet metal strips in place. Gutters 46 may be provided with flangesextending from the eave 43 a short distance upwardly between thesheathing and the roofing strips. A shield 49 may be provided behind thegutter for a purpose presently to be set forth.

Referring now more particularly to the construction and mounting of theinner wall face panels, it will be seen that these are illustrated asbeing made of sheet metal having flat outer surfaces forming the flushwall face. At the lower edge of the lowermost of these panels whichbears the numeral 58, the sheet metal is turned inwardly as shown at Elto provide a rearwardly offset flange 52 which is inclined downwardlyand away from the face 50 of the panel and which has a front faceproviding a latching surface engaging with the rear surface of thekeeper 3. This engagement, it will readily be perceived, is a wedgingengagement which will hold the lower edge portion of this panel tightlyin position with respect to the panel support members 8. In thisconnection it will also be seen by reference to Figure 2 that each ofthe face panels is made of such thickness that it will be said to haveabutment parts 53 overlying and abutting a cushioning strip 54 of rubberor the like on the front panel receiving surface in of one of the panelsupports 8 to provide for backing and aesaom supporting of the facepanels. It will also be seen by reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6 that thepanel 50 has at its upper edge an inturned portion 55 which on its inneredge is formed in an upwardly facing flange 56, the front surface ofthis flange providing a latching surface which is inclined upwardly andslightly toward the front face 50 of the panel, and which is adapted toreceive the keeper bar 5?. This keeper bar 5'! as will be seen extendsin front of the flange 55 and engages the rearwardly facing latchingsurfaces on the rear surfaces of the cross flanges of the adjacentsupports 8. Thus, these bars 51 serve as keepers for the latchingsurfaces provided by the front faces of the-flanges 55.

The lower edge of each of the upper inner face panels 58 and 59 isprovided with an inwardly extending portion 60 and with a down turnedflange 6| which provides upon its front face a latching surface adaptedto engage the rear face of the flange 56 just below. All of the panelsexcept the lowermost are provided with arrangements on their lower edgesand are provided on their respective upper edges with arrangementsidentical with that on the upper edge of the lower panel. A removablebar 5! is provided as a keeper for each of the adjacent upper and loweredges of such panels and for the upper edge of the top panel. It is tobe noted that the bar 51 is preferably round in cross section. Theflanges 55 and Si are resilient and the interfitting parts are of suchdimensions that they cannot be forced into full engagement with eachother without slightly straining these resilient flanges, the resultantof this situation being that when the parts are forced into fullengagement with each other the face panels will be held firmly againstthe panel receiving surfaces of the supports 8.

i The structure of the outside wall is similar in all respects to thatof the inside wall just described.

' It is to be noted that when used as an outside wall the structuredescribed is weatherproof because rain or'the like cannot beat into thejoint between the two inwardly extending parts 55 and 66 and reach theinterior Wall because of the upstanding flanges on the upper edges ofthe respective panels.

While it has been described that each of the wall panelsillustrated ismade of sheet metal, the inner faces of these sheet metal panels may befilled or covered with plastic or cement or lined with insulatingmaterial as illustrated if that be desired. It will be appreciated thatthe metal latching parts may be secured to cement or plastic panels inany desired manner, one such arrangement being shown in Figure 8 inwhich cement or plastic panels 62 have latching parts 63 and 64 anchoredin their upper and lower edges respectively, such parts corresponding inshape and function to the latching parts 55 and 60 heretofore described.These parts 63 and 61 are shown anchored in the panels 62 by means ofintegral flanges B5 and 66 respectively, bedded in the material of thepanels. The spacesbetween adjacent edges of such panels may be filledwith mortar if desired, or caulked, as shown at 61. I

While it is possible to use the same latching arrangement as justdescribed for securing ceiling panels in place a more suitable thoughkindred arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in the upperportionof Figure 3. understood also, that the arrangement shown It is to be assecuring ceiling panels in place in the upper portion of Figure 3 may,if desired, be employed for securing inner wall panels to theirsupports.

In the structure shown in the upper portion of Figure 3 ceiling panels68 are illustrated, these panels being of a construction and similar tothe wall panels heretofore described in that they have smooth, exposedfaces and are of a width to span the distance between adjacent ceilingsupport members or joists 25 and have parts bearing'against suchmembers. However, it has been found expedient in ceiling panel structureto provide each of the panels 63 with inturned flanges 69 having channelshaped portions it open toward each other at the inner extremities ofthe flanges 69. Bridging the spaces between and extending into each ofthe channel shaped portions 'It is a keeper bar I! crimpedlongitudinally into a shallow V-shaped cross section. The ends of thisbar extend over the top surfaces of adjacent support flanges I2 andserve to suspend the panels 63 from the panel supports. The flanges ofthe channel shaped parts it which are most remote from the panels 68 areinclined toward each other and slightly away from the panels 68 atsubstantially the same degree as the inclination of the two legs of theV-shaped cross section of the bar H. Thus it will be seen that when twoadjacent panels are pushed toward each other with a bar ii between thechannel shaped sections it and the ends of such bar engaging the flanges12, the panels 68 will be drawn into tight engagement with the panelsupport flanges 12.

The last panel 68 adjacent at a side wall is held by a keeper bar '13which is similar to one- The strip it extends down along the edge ofpanel 68 to. a point adjacent the lower face of panel 88 where it isformed with a fold 15 extending first away from then folded back towardpanel 68. Bolts 76 are welded or otherwise secured to strip 15 and havethreaded portions extending freely through openings in strip 2 i. A nutis threaded onto each bolt 16 between strips M- and 2| and it will beseen that turning the nut toward strip 2i will force keeper bar 13 intotight engagement with its channel 70.

A molding 7'! may be provided for bridging the space between the topmostinside wall panel 59 and the next adjacent ceiling panelfifi, suchmolding being secured in place by any suitable means such as by anintegral flange 58 which extends into and is frictionally held by fold15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in erecting a building of thecharacter described, the framework, including the studs or supports 8and 9, will be first erected with windows and doors in place and thewhole secured together. The roof trusses will next be put in place withthe part I! serving to position roof trusses with rethe same fashionbeginning at the bottom and the bar holding the uppermost edge of thetop panel of the inside wall can be put in place from inside thebuilding.

Next, the ceiling panels will be put in place beginning at the wallwhich is not shown but which would be over to the right of the structureshown in Figure 3 and working toward the left. The last panel 68 that isto be put in place is held upwardly in place by hand or other suitablemeans while the keeper [3 is moved to engage channel Til, whereupon awrench is inserted between the adjacent ceiling and inner wall panelsand engaged with the nut on each bolt 16 for the purpose previouslydescribed. It will be understood that thekeeper tightening arrangementmay be employed at both extremities of the ceiling and that by looseningone and tightening the other an entire row of ceiling panels may beshifted to align them with adjacent rows.

Last of all, the molding 11 may be put in place 7 and secured bypressing flange 18 into fold 15.

At any time desired after the lowermost wall panel has been put inplace, the baseboard [6 may be mounted.

Partitions may be of construction similar to those described for outsidewalls or ceiling.

The outside corner of a building constructed in accordance with thisinvention is preferably covered with long, angle shaped panels and maybe secured in place by a latching structure such as hereinbeforedescribed or by any other suitable means which may be desired.

It will further be appreciated that each of the latching parts and thecooperating elements not only of the inner wall panels and theirkeepers, but also of the outer wall and ceiling panels and their keepersas well, are preferably made of resilient material and are made of suchrelative sizes that they cannot be forced into full engagement with eachother without some straining of the material of which they areconstructed, so that once they are forced into full engagement with eachother these panels will be held firmly against their respective panelsupports.

Thus there has been disclosed a structure in which all of the objectsand advantages sought by this invention will be attained although itwill be apparent that departures from the exact arrangements andconfigurations of parts may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of this invention, the spirit and scope of the invention beinglimited only by the prior art and by the terms of the appended claims.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. A building construction comprising a frame having a plurality ofspaced parallel panel supports with flat panel receiving faces presentedoutwardly and a keeper between each pair of supports near one endthereof, a plurality of face panels each bridging the space between andoverlying a part of the panel receiving face of each of said pair ofsupports and having an edge juxtaposed to an edge of another of saidpanels, one of such panels having a latching part projecting betweensaid supports at one edge and engaging behind a part of said keeper andholding said one edge of the panel against the frame, and the adjacentedges of juxtaposed panels having complementary parts projecting betweensaid supports and toward each other and forming together a partiallyclosed channel extending between said supports, and a removable barmember lying in said channel and projecting behind a part of each 8 ofsaid supports and providing a keeper holding the adjacent edges of saidpanels in place against said supports.

2. A building wall construction comprising a pair of spacedsubstantially upright supports having front panel receiving faces andrearwardly facing latching surfaces, keepers fixed with respect to saidsupports adjacent the lower end thereof, a series of face panelsbridging the space between said supports and engaging said panelreceiving faces and being disposed one above the other in juxtaposedrelation to each other, each of said panels having thereon adjacent itslower edge a rearwardly offset, downwardly extending latching part, suchpart on the lowermost panel being in latching engagement with the saidfixed keeper, each of said panels having adjacent its upper edge arearwardly offset, upwardly extending and upwardly open keeper engaginglatching part, a removable keeper in each such keeper engaging latchingpart and extending therefrom into engagement with said latching surfaceson the supports, and the downwardly extending latching part on each ofsaid panels above the lowest panel engaging down behind a keeper part onthe next lower panel.

3. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spacedpanel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardlyfacing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each havingrearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abuttingrelation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts onits other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of theadjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts oneach panel extending generally parallel to but inclined slightly withrespect to the latching surfaces on the supports, each of said panelshaving one of its edges with latching parts juxtaposed with one of theedges with latching parts on another of said panels, and a removable barfor each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lyingbetween the adjacent latching parts on said pair of panels on the onehand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the otherhand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both ofthe juxtaposed panels.

4. A building construction comprising a, plurality of laterally spacedpanel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardlyfacing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each havingrearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abuttingrelation to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts onits other two opposite edges offset rearwardly 'beyond the planes of theadjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts oneach panel extending generally parallel to but inclined slightly withrespect to the latching surfaces on the supports, each of said panelshaving one of its edges with latching parts juxtaposed with one of theedges with latching parts on another of said panels and a removable barfor each pair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lyingbetween the adjacent latching parts on said two panels on the one hand,and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other handand serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacentpanels, said latching parts being of resilient material and the variouselements which cooperate to perform the latching function being ofrelative sizes requiring distortion of the latching parts when the saidelements are forced into full latching engagement with each other.

5. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spacedpanelsupports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardlyfacing latching surfaces, a plurality of face panels each havingrearwardly facing abutment parts along two opposite edges in abuttingrela tion to said panel receiving surfaces and having latching parts onits other two opposite edges offset rearwardly beyond the planes of theadjacent rearwardly facing latching surfaces, said latching parts oneach panel extending generally parallel to the latching surfaces onthesupports, each of said panels having one of its edges with latchingpa-rts juxtaposed with one of the edges with latching parts on anotherof said panels, and a removable bar for each pair of juxtaposed edges ofadjacent panels engaging and lying between the adjacent latching partson said two panels on the one hand, and the said latching surfaces onthe adjacent supports on the other hand and serving as a keeper for theadjacent latching parts of both adjacent panels.

6. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spacedpanel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardlyfacing latching surfaces, a fixed keeper between said supports andadjacent the lower extremities of such surfaces, a plurality ofjuxtaposed face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment partsalong two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receivingsurfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edgesoffset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facinglatching surfaces,said latching parts on each panel extending generallyparallel to the latching surfaces on the supports, the latching parts onthe lower edge of the lowermost panel being in latching engagement withthe keeper fixed between said supports, and a removable bar for eachpair of juxtaposed edges of adjacent panels engaging and lying betweenthe adjacent latching parts on said pair of panels on the one hand, andsaid latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the other hand andserving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of both adjacentpanels. a

7. A building construction comprising a plurality of laterally spacedpanel supports having front panel receiving surfaces and rearwardlyfacing latching surfaces, a lower fixed keeper extending between saidpanel supports adjacent the lower ends thereof, a plurality ofjuxtaposed face panels each having rearwardly facing abutment partsalong two opposite edges in abutting relation to said panel receivingsurfaces and having latching parts on its other two opposite edgesoffset rearwardly beyond the planes of the adjacent rearwardly facinglatching surfaces, the latching part on the free edge of one of thelowermost panels being in engagement With the said fixed keeper surfacewhich is disposed rearwardly of the panel receiving surfaces, thelatching parts on each panel extending generally parallel to thelatching surfaces on the supports, and a removable bar for each pair ofjuxtaposed edges of adjacent panels and for the free edge of the otherend panel engaging and lying between the adjacent latching parts on eachtwo adjacent panels and the free edge of the other end panel on the onehand, and said latching surfaces on the adjacent supports on the otherhand and serving as a keeper for the adjacent latching parts of bothadjacent panels and the free edge of the Other end panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,563,6'51 Pomerantz Dec. 1, 1925 2,049,278 Toussaint et al.July 28, 1936 2,062,160 Calkins et a1. Nov. 24, 1936 2,076,388 VenzieApr. 6, 1937 2,114,155 Streich Apr. 12, 1938 2,142,305 Davis Jan. 3,1939 2,430,654 Voege Nov. 11, 1947

